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How to Cook Frozen Food in Air Fryer

By on , updated - Leave a Comment

Air frying frozen foods is the best way to cook it for the best taste & texture. And no cooking method is as quick, easy and non-messy. Learn how to cook any frozen food in the air fryer, and have it tasting great in no time!

Air fried frozen food on a blue platter.
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Since I got my air fryer I'm not cooking frozen foods any other way. I love how quick it is, the great results, and the super easy cleanup.

Why the Air Fryer is Great for Cooking Frozen Foods

  • It's quick, much quicker than baking in the oven
  • It's easy, at least as easy as any other cooking method
  • Not greasy as deep fat frying can be, since we use soo much less oil!
  • Great texture thanks to the circulating air - it crisps everything up on all sides
  • Great taste thanks to the even cooking and the added crispiness
  • Healthier since you need much less oil than for other methods - you could even skip it entirely!
  • Super simple clean up - no oil to get rid off, no parchment paper to throw away, no pan to clean... and most air fryer baskets you can just throw in the dishwasher!
sweet potatoes on a plate next to a dipping sauce.

General Process & How-To

When air frying frozen foods, you just need to follow one general process. There are a few decisions to make along the way, and below I will walk you through all of them.

For more tips and tricks on how to get started using your air fryer, go to my Air Fryer Get Started Guide.

Do I need to defrost my food before air frying?

No, you should generally never thaw frozen pre-cooked food you want to cook in an air fryer. Cook itstraight from frozen for best results.

Should I add oil?

I recommend addind a little bit of oil for almost all foods, as I find it helps with the crisp and that perfect golden color.

  • For most frozen foods, I recommend adding a small amount of oil
  • Instead of oil, you can also use cooking spray
  • Oil helps give the food a nice golden color
  • Too much oil can make the food soggy instead of crispy
air fryed shrimp with parsley on a blue plate.

Choosing the right temperature

The temperature you choose can make a big difference, here are some tips to help guide you.

  • In general, go a step below what you would use in the oven. The recommended oven temperature for frozen foods will usually be stated on the bag.
    • If the bag says 400Ā°F (200Ā°C), go for 350Ā°F (180Ā°C)
    • If the bag says 450Ā°F (225Ā°C), go for 400Ā°F (200Ā°C)
  • For frozen foods filled with cheese, like mozzarella sticks or chili cheese nuggets, keep it at 350Ā°F (180Ā°C) to avoid the cheese leaking out

Should I preheat the air fryer?

I always recommend preheating your air fryer, if this is not explicitly recommended against for your specific model. Starting out with the right temperature will help cook your food quicker and more evenly.

Mozzarella stick cheese pull.

How much can I cook at the same time?

You don't want to overcrowd your air fryer, as this will affect the result negatively.

  • For a super crispy result, always cook in a single layer
  • Fries, potato wedges, veggies, etc. can overlap, but you should still not fill your air fryer basket more than halfway - the less overlap, the crispier the result!
  • Steaks, chicken, spring rolls, dumplings and similar should be cooked in a single layer

How long do I cook frozen food in an air fryer?

A great thing about the air fryer is that it's so easy to check on your food while it's cooking. So you can start with an idea of the time, and then adjust as you go.

As with the temperature, the bag your food came in will give you a good starting point, adjusted as follows:

  • Generally, the food will cook in about half of the time it would in the oven
  • A smaller air fryer, will cook the food quicker
a dumpling being picked up with chopsticks.

Do I need to flip or mix the food?

Despite the air fryer circulating the air I find you get the best results when you flip, mix, or shake your food at least once halfway.

When is it done?

How you decide when your food is done depends on what type of food you are cooking. Regardless, the easiest way to check for doneness is to use a meat thermometer.

If you don't have one, cut into the food an check that it is adequately hot and/or cooked all the way through.

a chicken wing being dipped into blue cheese sauce.

What frozen foods are good in air fryer?

I have yet to find a frozen food that is not great cooked in the air fryer! Some of the best frozen foods to cook in your air fryer include:

FAQ

For more answers to all your Air Fryer questions, check out my extensive Air Fryer FAQ.

Can you put frozen meat directly in an air fryer?

Yes, you can absolutely cook frozen meat straight from frozen in your air fyer.

Do you have to thaw chicken before air frying?

No, you can cook chicken straight from frozen in the air fryer, but it will take longer than cooking it after thawing.

Can you cook a frozen TV dinner in an air fryer?

Yes, you can! Just make sure the container is safe for the oven (this means it will be fine in the air fryer as well) and that it fits inside. If not, you can move it to another oven safe dish that fits.

Does frozen food cook faster in an air fryer?

Yes, compared to the oven frozen food does cook faster in an air fryer.

Air fried frozen food on a blue platter.

Specific Cook Times & Temperatures

Below you will find cook times and temperatures for common frozen foods. For most of these, you can click the link to go to a full guide to cooking this specific food - complete with tips & tricks.

These cook times have been tested in a Philips HD9252/90 Air Fryer* and a Ninja Foodi DZ401 DualZone XL*. Cook times can vary with your air fryer model.

Side Dishes & Veggies

Beef & Pork

  • Steak: 10-15 minutes at 390Ā°F (200Ā°C)
  • Bacon: 7-9 minutes at 390Ā°F (200Ā°C)
  • Meatballs: 6 minutes at 350Ā°F (180Ā°C)
  • Burgers: 5-10 minutes (depending on thickness) at 400Ā°F (200Ā°C) + 5 minutes resting
  • Sausages: 12-14 minutes at 390Ā°F (200Ā°C) for thin sausages and 360Ā°F (180Ā°C) (thick sausages)
  • Hot Dogs: 8-10 minutes at 390Ā°F (200Ā°C)

Chicken & Turkey

Fish & Seafood

Vegan & Vegetarian

  • Veggie Burgers: 10-12 minutes (depending on thickness and type) at 400Ā°F (200Ā°C)

Snacks & Appetizers

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...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.

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About Emmeline Kemperyd

Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSNĀ  and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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